Mountainsmith is pulling off the gloves and proving that materials, otherwise headed for the trash pile, can be recycled to make durable, high-performance products. Mountainsmith is truly setting the example for the industry, and has put in the extra umph to close the loop. Instead of providing only goods that are recyclable, Mountainsmith’s products are actually made with other recycled materials. Each Mountainsmith pack reduces green house gas emissions by 40% when compared to a pack of a similar size, made with run-of-the-mill materials and processes.
As an innovative outdoor pack, camera bag, and luggage manufacturer based in Golden, CO, Mountainsmith is no newbie to environmental responsibility. In 2006 they were the first company to bring recycled fabric technology to high-perfomance outdoor packs. Then in 2008, their Phoenix pack won the coveted Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice Green Award. This year Mountainsmith will release 11 new bags that will bring 35% of their product line under the “made of recycled materials” tag.
Mountainsmith’s proprietary material, Redura, is a 100% recycled PET polyester. The Redura story begins when plastic bottles are shredded into flakes. These flakes are melted and extruded into yarn, which is then spun and woven into Redura fabric. For additional strength and durability the material is then treated three times, with a water-based polyurethane coating. But don’t judge yet, this coating was recently approved by Bluedesign®, who provides independent standards guaranteeing that new recycled fabrics only contain components that are harmless to both people and the environment.
Mountainsmith has teamed-up from the beginning with HO YU textile, one of the first PET textile manufacturers in the outdoor industry, to produce Redura. This partnership insures that both their fabrics and manufacturing processes are following environmentally friendly standards.
Mountainsmith estimates that they will save around 2.6 million 16 oz plastic bottles from ending up in landfills. Unfortunately, Mountainsmith will have no problem gathering raw materials. Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, most of which end up in a trash can! Each Mountainsmith bag contains anywhere from 1.5 bottles, in products like the Cyber II camera case, to 24 bottles in the larger backpacking packs. But Mountainsmith does not stop with the fabric; the zippers, webbing and some mesh are also made from recycled plastic bottles.
So hats off to Mountainsmith, and as they say, “Save the planet, go backpacking”!
Check out some more awesome recycled bags from Mountainsmith. . .
